Los Angeles Southwest College vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Southwest College in Los Angeles, CA with MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

MiraCosta College is larger than Los Angeles Southwest College based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 5,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Southwest College is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Los Angeles Southwest College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles Southwest College 22:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

Los Angeles Southwest College vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Los Angeles Southwest College or MiraCosta College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Los Angeles Southwest College than MiraCosta College ($6,361 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Southwest College are 26% lower than at MiraCosta College ($25,407 vs. $34,328).
• Los Angeles Southwest College is 6.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $80 more per year; $1,238.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.4% higher at Los Angeles Southwest College than at MiraCosta College (about $822 more per year; $10,572.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Southwest College than at MiraCosta College (86% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Southwest College students is 32.1% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($6,622 vs. $5,013).

Los Angeles Southwest College vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Los Angeles Southwest College or MiraCosta College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between MiraCosta College and Los Angeles Southwest College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Los Angeles Southwest College - Open admission; MiraCosta College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Los Angeles Southwest College Sep 12, 2026.

Los Angeles Southwest College vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Los Angeles Southwest College and MiraCosta College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from MiraCosta College earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than Los Angeles Southwest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College and Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have the same median loan debt ($4,500 vs. $4,500).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, MiraCosta College and Los Angeles Southwest College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($46 vs. $46).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Southwest College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 21%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.